Salinas vs Soquel 2025

*click on HD1080 for best quality* Follow IG page @MakMadeSports   / makmadesports   Story by John Devine, Monterey Daily Herald SOQUEL — For Salinas High’s football team, talk after the game was about getting back in the lab, learning from their mistakes and staying the course. Improvement has been evident over the first four weeks, which is what Salinas coach Steve Zenk emphasizes. But right now, Soquel is playing on a different level. Owners of 13 straight regular-season wins, the reigning Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champions sent another message Friday to the rest of the league after a 41-24 win over Salinas. Through three Gabilan Division games, the Knights are averaging 48 points a game, while having allowed just 38 points — 24 to Salinas. “Our kids played their butts off,” Zenk said. “I told them after the game don’t hang your heads. There were zero issues with their effort. Soquel is really good.” On the heels of a Gabilan Division title in just its third year in the league, Soquel came into the meeting having outscored its first two league opponents — both of which played for a Central Coast Section title last year — 63-0 in the first half. The Knights 49-0 win over Carmel two weeks ago marked the first time in 19 years that the reigning State Division 5 AA champs were held without a touchdown. -Salinas High's Amani Liang deflects a pass intended for Soquel's Ethan Mopress in the end zone during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Soquel High quarterback Sam Whelan runs for a touchdown against visiting Salinas during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Salinas High quarterback Michael Andrade is sacked by Soquel's Wyatt ------Nichols during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Soquel High tight end Kane Humecky extends for a pass while being hits by Salinas' Caleb Nolan tackles during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Soquel High quarterback Sam Whelan targets a receiver while being pressured by linebacker Travis Keegan of visiting Salinas during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Soquel High receiver Jake Escalante catches a 41-yard pass for a touchdown against visiting Salinas during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Soquel High running back Kelton Forbus makes a diving reception against visiting Salinas during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Soquel High running back Kelton Forbus, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against visiting Salinas during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel) -Show Caption1 of 9Soquel High wide receiver Hudson Summerrill catches a pass against visiting Salinas during the teams' PCAL Gabilan Division game on Friday. (John Lee - Santa Cruz Sentinel)Expand Yet, when Michael Andrade connected with Hovan Lusk on a 47-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, the Cowboys were within 10 points. “We had some momentum,” said Zenk, who is one win away from tying the Salinas school record for wins. “Let’s get a stop to start the second half. Instead, Soquel went downfield and scored.” It snowballed from there as the Knights (5-0) ran off 14 straight points to open the second half behind quarterback Sam Whelan and running back Kelton Forbus, extending their lead to 34-10. Whelan, who guided Soquel to a State Division 4 AA title as a sophomore in 2023, came into the game having thrown for 908 yards and nine touchdowns, with just two interceptions in 154 attempts. What is becoming clear is the emergence of a pair of sophomores in Andrade and Lusk, as 14 of Andrade’s 23 completions went to Lusk, who finished with 172 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The 14 catches nearly matched Lusk’s season total of 15 receptions for 194 yards. It was his first multi-touchdown game for the Cowboys. “I think a lot of good things are coming between those two, and others,” said Zenk whose record in the Gabilan Division dropped to 56-4 over eight seasons, with two of those losses coming against Soquel. At 2-2 overall, Salinas has actually been outscored 141-111 this year, with the two losses coming against programs a combined 9-1 and ranked in the Top 8 in their respective sections. Owners of 16 straight playoff appearances, Zenk realizes that Salinas will need some help if it has aspirations about earning a share of the Gabian Division title. Contact: [email protected] [FREE] UK Drill Type Beat x NY Drill Type Beat "Hero" | Drill Type Beat Instrumental 2025 i dont own the rights to the background music. #football #highschoolfootball #collegefootball #soquel #salinas #ccs #california